ISLAMABAD, June 9: The Senate Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges has decided to grant suo motu power to the chairmen of Senate committees to take notice of any matter.

The committee, which met here at the Parliament House under the chairmanship of Col (retd) Syed Tahir Hussain Mashhadi, revised and amended various rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Senate 1988 by consensus.

It also decided to give representation to the opposition in all Senate standing committees as chairmen and members.

Chairman of the committee lauded the members’ interest, input and contributions in streamlining the rules of procedure, highlighted the fact that supremacy of the Parliament must be maintained at all costs.

He said the nation had suffered enough and it was imperative that the pillars of state specially the Parliament must be given supremacy.

“Only a strong Parliament can take us out of the quagmire in which we find ourselves and that if the Parliament is strong then other institutions of the state will be strong and in a position to deliver justice and services to the oppressed and suffering masses,” he observed. It was noted that land mark and far reaching democratic traditions, rules and customs have incorporated in the rules of procedure.

Col (retd) Mashhadi said that coming generations will greatly benefit as well democracy in general from the new proposals and decisions. He said the new steps will ensure greater and more active participation of all members in legislation and establish good and lasting healthy democratic norms and practices in the country.

The meeting was attended by senators Prof Mohammad Ibrahim Khan, Prof Khurshid Ahmad, Asfandyar Wali, S M Zafar, Dr Khalid Ranja, Kamil Ali Agha, Raza Mohammad Raza, Saadia Abbasi and Naeem Hussain Chatta.